Steam-turbine.



T. BODDE.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1911.

Patented July 30, 1912.

INVENTOR BY 9 G Aw 7 WITNESSES 21* MW 2 i i A TTORNE Y COLUMBIAPLANOGRAPH C0,, wmnma'ron, n. c.

THEODORE BODDE, OF NOBTI-IFIELD, VERMONT;

STEAM-TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE BoDDE, a subjectof the Queen of the Netherlands, residing in Northfield, county ofWVashington, in the State of Vermont, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Steam-Turbines, of which the following is a trueand exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof.

My present invention relates to steam turbines and consists in part in anovel and effective arrangement for magnetically supporting a turbineelement rotating about a vertical axis, and in part in a novelmodification of a turbine of the reaction wheel type especially adaptedfor laboratory clemonstrations.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention,

however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I haveillustrated and described ,forms of apparatus embodying my invention.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of turbineembodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a- Iconstruction shown in Figs. 2 and 4, B, represents a base member towhich the legs of an arch-shaped permanent magnet A is connected. Themagnet A is so magnetized that one of the poles of the magnet is at thecenter of the arch while the bottom ends of the two legs of the magnetare each of the same polarity as the other and opposite in polarity tothe center of the arch. The magnet A is formed at the top of the archwith an aperture A terminating at its upper end in a spherical seat Afor a ball G. The ball G is connected to and supports the polepiecemember F. The member F and advantageously also the ball G and theconnecting neck are formed of magnetic material and form in effect apolar extension of the magnet A. Advantageously as shown the member F isin the form of an inverted cone having a rounded lower end F.

The rotating turbine element is of the type of Heros reaction wheel, andcomprises a tubular member or barrel D advantageously formed of copperor brass, and closed at its upper end by a cap member E of magneticmaterial. I The latter is advantageously made of conical shape with itspoint E rounded like the member F. The barrel D is partially filled withwater and has orifice arms formed by the ends of a tube 1 passingdiametrically through the barrel D adjacent the upper end of the latter,to which it is rigidly secured as by brazing. The tube I is providedwith an orifice 1 at its center and is provided at each end with anorifice 1 opening horizontally at right angles to the tube, and the twoorifices I pointing in opposite directions. Themagnet A is made of suchstrength and the parts are so proportioned that the magnetic attractionbetween the polar portion F and the magnetic body E, which forms ineffect an armature for the magnet A, is suflicient to sustain the weightof the body E and barrel D and tube I.

When steam is generated within the barrel D as by the heat of a burner,such as an alcohol lamp Z, placed on the base B, the steam dischargedthrough the ports I will set the barrel D into rotation. Since thepressure between the polar portion F and the magnetic body E is equal tothe difference between the magnetic attractive force acting betweenthese bodies and the weight of body E, barrel D and tube 1, thefrictional resistance to the rotative movement rigid and the armature Ebe rigidly connected to the rotating turbine element any slight lateraldisplacement of the armature with respect to the pole-piece results incausing the turbine element to break the magnetic suspension whenrotated at high speed. WVhen the polepiece and armature are given thecapacity for relative adjustbine element has a self centering capacity.In such case on any slight lateral displacement of the points of contactof the pole piece and armature the former tends to rock into theposition in which the point of con tact is in line with the rotatingaxis of the turbine element and the continued rotation of the lattertends to bring the parts back to the position in which the axes of thepolepiece and armature member coincide. The rounded contact surfaces Fand E obviously contribute to this self-centering capacity.

It is not essential, of course, that the pole-piece F from which therotating element is suspended be energized by a permanent magnet, nor isit essential that the pole-piece be adjustably mounted in order to givethe desired self-centering capacity. The latter may be obtained bymaking the armature member adjustable with respect to the rotatingturbine element, and in Fig. 3

I have shown a construction in which the pole-piece from which theturbine element is magnetically suspended is rigidly secured in place,and forms a part of an electromagnet, and in which the armaturecooperati-ng with the pole-piece is non-rigidly connected to therotating turbine element, although it will be understood that these twofeatures are not necessarily employed together. In Fig. 3, the permanentmagnet A of Fig. 1 is replaced by an arc-shaped support AA to the top ofwhich is secured an electro-magnet J provided with a pole piece J whichdiffers from the pole piece F of Fig. 1 mainly in the fact that it isrigidly connected to its support. The armature element EA of Fig. 3 isof conical shape like the armature E of Fig. 1, but

unlike the latter is not rigidly connected to the barrel D of theturbine element. this construction the upper end of the barrel D isclosed by a cap, member DA and the members EA and DA are connected by aflexible wire or other filamentary member K which causes the armature EAto rotate with the turbine element, but permits the turbine element torotate about its own axis.

and at the same time permits the armature element EA to adjust itselfwith respect to:

bodied in the present invention are capable of use in apparatus of asize and character adapted for ordinary commercial purposes. mentreferred to, however, the rotating tur- While in accordance with theprovisions of the statutes 1 have illustrated and described the bestforms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatusdisclosed without dea parting from the spirit of my invention, and

that under some conditions, certain features of my invention may be usedwith advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: v

l. The combination with a steam turbine element rotating about avertical axis and having a magnetic body secured to its upper end, of amagnet having a polar portion against which said body is held by themagnetic attraction between said body and said polar portion.

2. The combination with a steam turbine element rotating about avertical axis and having a magnetic body of conical form and withroundedapex secured to its upper end, of a magnet having a polar portion in theform of an inverted cone with a rounded apex, said body being heldagainst said polar portion by the magnetic attraction between them.

3. The combination with a steam turbine element rotating about avertical axis and having a magnetic body secured to its upper end, of amagnet secured thereto, a polar body, said first mentioned body being'the part to which it is secured to give said bodies a capacity forrelative adjustment whereby the turbine element is given a selfcenteringcapacity.

4. The combination with a steam turbine element rotating about avertical axis and having a magnetic body-of conical form and with arounded apex secured to its upper end, of a magnet having securedthereto a polar body in the form of an inverted cone with a roundedapex, said first mensecured to give said bodies a capacity for relativeadjustment whereby the turbine element is given a self-centeringcapacity.

5. The combination of a magnet having a polar portion, a Hero reactionwheel provided with a magnetic body at its upper end which is heldagainst said polar portion by the magnetic attraction between the latterand said body.

6. The combination of a stand, a magnet distance sufiicient to permit ofthe interpo supported thereby and having a polar porsition of a burnerfor heating the reaction 10 tion located above said stand, a Hero reac-Wheel.

tion Wheel provided With a magnetic body at its upper end Which is heldagainst said THEODORE BODDE polar portion by the magnetic attraction be-Witnesses:

tween the latter and said body, said reac- G. MAX SANBORN,

tion Wheel being separated from said base a W. A. MoINTosH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

